Then he went downstairs, and joined the party, just finishing the supper.

He refused, it is true, to eat anything, and was quiet, but this phase was so normal in him, that it occasioned no remark.

Asked where Miss Pierce was, he explained briefly that he had left her in the hall, in order to do his packing and had not seen her since.
In a few moments the party broke up.

Peter said a good-bye to each, quite conscious of what he was doing, yet really saying more and better things than he had said in his whole visit, and quite surprising them all in the apparent ease with which he went through the duty.
"You must come and see us when you have put your shingle out in New York," said Mr.Pierce, not quite knowing why, having previously decided that they had had enough of Peter.

"We shall be in the city early in September, and ready to see our friends." "Thank you," replied Peter.